So...a question about unpowered USB hubs

[Marcos]

Because like most things there are comptomises. In order to make the sockets small the conductors are small. That limits the current capacity from the word go. The sockets are designed to be easy to connect/disconnect, so they use sliding contacts. This also limits the current carrying capacity. Finally they are designed to be hot pluggable, so unplugging a plug that was drawing a relatively high current could lead to sparking/arcing which would eventually erode the contact surfaces.

good answer

[Marcos]

Does your lappy have bluetooth? I'm sure I have seen bluetooth mice & keyboards. That would free up your USB ports for hard drives.

it does indeed, but are bluetooth mice that easy to find? i only remember one that microsoft did a few years ago. Whoa, must have been 4 or 5 years ago now

[Marcos]

thanked for what??

[peterb]

You kind comment on my answer to a question you posed!